Palace allows use of back door to PWDs, elderly

CEBU, Philippines - To address the long queues at the Palace of Justice following the implementation of stricter security check of visitors, Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Macaundas Hadjirasul yesterday announced few changes in the system.

Hadjirasul, chairman of the committee on security, revealed that persons with disabilities (PWDs) and senior citizens can use the back door of the Palace of Justice for entry and exit.

This is contained in a new memorandum, amending the first one that only allowed court employees, judges and prosecutors to use the back door.

One of the two doors in the front will also be opened for inmates but will be closed as soon as all of them are already in the Hall of Justice.

Hadjirasul is also waiting for a formal request from the lawyers who are asking that they be allowed to use the back door.

Lawyer Earl Bonachita,  President of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Cebu City Chapter said they will write to the executive judge to formalize their request.

Hadjirasul said after the shooting incident last week, everything in the Palace of Justice is back to normal.

Some visitors still complained of the new system yesterday.

But Hadjirasul explained that the disorder in the releasing the ID cards of the visitors is normal as it was only the first day implementation of the new system.

There were 500 pieces of visitors pass that will be issued to visitors and  litigants in exchange for an ID card upon entry.

Concepcion Mapa, 66, who attended a hearing at the Regional Trial Court Branch 19 requested that IDs for senior citizens must be separate from those issued to other visitors.

The police interns were assisted by the members of the Judicial Security Group (JSG) in implementing the new security policy.

Meanwhile, State Prosecutor Aida Sanchez told reporters yesterday that Prosecutor Ma. Theresa Casiño has been transferred from the Intensive Care Unit to the Intermediate Critical Care Unit (ICCU) last Monday.

Sanchez said the transfer is a good sign although she admitted that Casiño's left still could not see.

As of Monday, Sanchez said Casiño's hospital bills have eached of more than P200,000.

Casiño was the third victim when Canadian national John Pope had a shooting spree in the Palace of Justice Monday last week.

His two other victims, Dr. Rene Rafols and lawyer Jubian Achas, died.

Pope, who was eight counts of malicious mischief, killed himself after shooting the victims. —  (FREEMAN)